BATON ROUGE — No. 20 LSU (24-11, 4-8 SEC) plays host to No. 8 Alabama (26-10, 9-3 SEC) in a three-game SEC series this weekend in Alex Box Stadium.
Game 1 of the LSU-Alabama series is set for 6:30 p.m. CT Friday, Game 2 begins at 2 p.m. CT Saturday and Game 3 starts at 1 p.m. CT Sunday.
The games will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge). The audio broadcast, streaming video and live stats are available in the Geaux Zone powered by USAgencies at www.LSUsports.net.
None of the three games will be televised.
Alabama, guided by 12th-year coach Jim Wells, represents the third Top 10 club LSU will face in the last four weekends. LSU dropped a 2-1 series decision to Mississippi State (No. 1 at the time) on March 24-26 and was swept in three games by South Carolina (No. 5 at the time) on March 31-April 2.
Alabama enters this weekend’s series tied for first place with South Carolina in the overall SEC standings, and the Tide has a 2.5-game lead over Mississippi State in the Western Division. LSU, which has won four of its last five games, is tied for fifth place in the SEC West, five games behind Alabama.
“Alabama is a feisty team,” LSU coach Smoke Laval said. “They have won 10 of their last 12 and are really on a roll at this time. They have a great Friday night pitcher, and their Saturday and Sunday guys can go deep into games and then they have a good closer.
“We have started swinging the bats pretty well. Hopefully, we can make a run late and catch some teams at a good time.”
Alabama enters the weekend with the No. 3 team ERA (3.03) in the SEC. The Crimson Tide is No. 10 in the league in team batting average (.274) and No. 5 in fielding percentage (.968).
LSU is No. 7 in the SEC in both batting average (.298) and ERA (3.80), and the Tigers are No. 3 in fielding percentage (.970).
Freshman right-hander Louis Coleman (3-2, 3.48 ERA) will take the mound for the Tigers in Friday’s series opener. Coleman defeated Tennessee last Friday in just his second career SEC start. The native of Schlater, Miss. worked eight innings and limited UT to two runs (one earned) on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Alabama will counter Friday with junior left-hander Wade LeBlanc (6-0, 2.47 ERA), who has 69 strikeouts in 69.1 innings of work.
LSU right fielder Quinn Stewart increased his SEC-leading home run total to 14 last Friday as he blasted two dingers at Tennessee. Stewart is batting .338 (44-for-130) on the year with seven doubles, two triples, 14 homers and 39 RBI.
LSU launched three homers Tuesday night and right-hander Michael Bonura tossed 4.2 scoreless innings as the Tigers blanked Northwestern State, 12-0, in a game stopped in the seventh inning due to the 10-run rule.
Third baseman Will Harris, second baseman J.T. Wise and designated hitter Jordan Mayer each connected on three-run blasts against Northwestern State, and first baseman Steven Waguespack went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Mayer and Wise have homered in consecutive games, as they each provided two-run shots in last Sunday’s 6-2 win at Tennessee.
Wise, tied with Stewart for the team lead in hitting, is batting .338 (44-for-130) on the year with 10 doubles, six homers and 23 RBI.
Alabama is paced by junior outfielder Emeel Salem, who is hitting .338 (50-for-148) with nine doubles, one triple, one homer and 17 RBI. Senior catcher Kody Valverde is batting .289 and leads the Tide in homers (8) and RBI (31).
Alabama has a 185-139-3 all-time record against LSU in a series that dates back to the 1906 season. LSU has won five of the last six series with Alabama, though the Tide captured a 2-1 series victory last year in Tuscaloosa.
The Tigers have a 15-6 mark against Alabama over the past six seasons (2000-05).
Wells has a 22-29 (.431) career mark against LSU, including a 20-23 (.465) record during his 12 seasons at Alabama.
Laval has a 10-9 (.526) career mark against Alabama, and he is 8-5 (.615) against the Tide in his five seasons at LSU.
SERIES FACTS
# 8 Alabama Crimson Tide (26-10, 9-3) at # 20 LSU Fighting Tigers (24-11, 4-8)
DATES/TIMES
Friday, April 14 — 6:30 p.m. CDT; Saturday, April 15 — 2 p.m. CDT; Sunday, April 16 — 1 p.m. CDT
STADIUM
Alex Box Stadium (7,760) in Baton Rouge, La.
RANKINGS
LSU ( # 20 USA Today/ESPN)
Alabama (# 8 Collegiate Baseball, # 9 Baseball America, # 11 USA Today/ESPN)
TICKETS
$8 adults, $5 children ages 3-12 — available at Alex Box Stadium each day two hours prior to first pitch; tickets may also be purchased and printed at www.LSUsports.net
SPECIAL EVENTS/PROMOTIONS
FRIDAY
Jimmy Buffett Night
Fans are encouraged to wear Hawaiian shirts to the game — first 300 fans in Hawaiian shirts receive a special gift as they enter the stadium
SUNDAY
Easter Egg Hunt following the game on the field for kids age 12 and under
A moment of silence will be observed before the National Anthem in memory of the late Johnnie Thibodeaux, a former LSU baseball player (1997-2001) who died last summer. Johnnie’s family and friends will be recognized on the field prior to the game.
RADIO
All three games on the LSU Sports Radio Network (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge)
INTERNET
Audio broadcast, streaming video and live stats of all three games in the Geaux Zone powered by USAgencies at www.LSUsports.net
TV
None
SERIES RECORD
Alabama leads, 185-139-3 (first meeting in 1906)
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Game 1
LSU — Fr. RHP Louis Coleman (3-2, 3.48 ERA, 41.1 IP, 13 BB, 31 SO)
UA — Jr. LHP Wade LeBlanc (6-0, 2.47 ERA, 69.1 IP, 15 BB, 69 SO)
Game 2
LSU — Jr. LHP Clay Dirks (3-3, 4.03 ERA, 44.2 IP, 11 BB, 49 SO)
UA — Jr. RHP Bernard Robert (5-1, 2.79 ERA, 51.2 IP, 18 BB, 38 SO)
Game 3
LSU — Jr. RHP Derik Olvey (6-1, 2.29 ERA, 63.0 IP, 13 BB, 52 SO)
UA — Fr. RHP Tommy Hunter (5-2, 2.95 ERA, 55.0 IP, 10 BB, 41 SO)